耶穌和施洗者約翰
1耶穌囑咐完十二個門徒，就離開那裡，到附近的城鎮傳道和教導人。
2約翰在監獄中聽到基督所做的事，就差兩個門徒去問祂： 3「你就是那位我們所等候的救主嗎？還是我們要等別人呢？」
4耶穌回答說：「你們回去把所見所聞告訴約翰， 5就是瞎子看見，瘸子走路，痲瘋病人得潔淨，聾子聽見，死人復活，窮人聽到福音。 6凡對我沒有失去信心的人有福了！」
7他們離開後，耶穌對眾人談起約翰，說：「你們從前去曠野要看什麼呢？看隨風搖動的蘆葦嗎？ 8如果不是，你們到底想看什麼？是看穿綾羅綢緞的人嗎？那些穿綾羅綢緞的人生活在王宮裡。 9你們究竟想看什麼？看先知嗎？是的，我告訴你們，他不只是先知。 10聖經上說，『看啊，我要差遣我的使者在你前面為你預備道路』，這裡所指的就是約翰。 11我實在告訴你們，凡婦人所生的，沒有一個興起來比施洗者約翰大，然而天國裡最微不足道的也比他大。
12「從施洗者約翰到現在，天國一直在強勁地擴展著，強勁的人要抓住它。 13因為到約翰為止，所有的先知和律法都在預言天國的事。 14如果你們願意接受，約翰就是那要來的以利亞。 15有耳可聽的都應該留心聽。
16「這個世代的人好像什麼呢？他們好像一群在街上玩耍的兒童對別的孩子說，
17『我們吹娶親的樂曲，
你們不跳舞；
我們唱送葬的哀歌，
你們不悲傷。』
18約翰來了，也不吃也不喝，他們就說他被鬼附身。 19人子來了，又吃又喝，他們就說祂是貪吃好酒之徒，與稅吏和罪人為友。然而智慧會在她的作為上得到驗證。」
不肯悔改的城
20那時，耶穌開始責備一些城鎮，因為祂在那裡行了許多神蹟，當地的居民仍不肯悔改。 21祂說：「哥拉汛啊，你大禍臨頭了！伯賽大啊，你大禍臨頭了！我在你們當中所行的神蹟，如果行在泰爾和西頓，那裡的人早就身披麻衣，頭蒙灰塵，悔改了。 22所以我告訴你們，在審判之日，你們將比泰爾和西頓受更重的刑罰！
23「迦百農啊，你將被提升到天上嗎？不！你將被打落到陰間。因為若把在你那裡所行的神蹟行在所多瑪，它肯定會存留到今天。 24所以我告訴你們，在審判之日，你們將比所多瑪受更重的刑罰！」
勞苦者得安息
25那時，耶穌說：「父啊，天地的主，我頌讚你，因為你把這些事向聰明、有學問的人隱藏起來，卻啟示給像孩童一般的人。 26父啊，是的，這正是你的美意。 27我父將一切交給了我。除了父，沒有人認識子；除了子和受子啟示的人，沒有人認識父。
28「所有勞苦困乏、背負重擔的人啊，到我這裡來吧！我要賜給你們安息。 29我心柔和謙卑，你們要負我的軛，向我學習，這樣你們的心靈必得享安息。 30因為我的軛容易負，我的擔子很輕省。」
Jesus and John the Baptist
1After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee.11:1 Greek in their towns
2When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples 3to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”
4Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: 5The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy11:5 The Greek word traditionally translated leprosy was used for various diseases affecting the skin. are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. 6Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”
7As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? 8If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces. 9Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10This is the one about whom it is written:
“ ‘I will send my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way before you.’11:10 Mal. 3:1
11Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence,11:12 Or been forcefully advancing and violent people have been raiding it. 13For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. 14And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come. 15Whoever has ears, let them hear.
16“To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others:
17“ ‘We played the pipe for you,
and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge,
and you did not mourn.’
18For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.”
Woe on Unrepentant Towns
20Then Jesus began to denounce the towns in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. 21“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. 23And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades.11:23 That is, the realm of the dead For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. 24But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”
The Father Revealed in the Son
25At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. 26Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.
27“All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
28“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
